How will a Prime Matt Saad Muhammad do in today's 168-175 Division?

[Prince_Pugilist]

Kessler and Froch hit harder than Qawi? I call

Possibly not, and he was stopped by him twice. What's your point exactly?

[SBleeder]

Froch- Carl would win, possibly a wide UD or late stoppage

Kesller- Kessler would stop him

Dawson- Dawson would win a decision, might be close

Campllio- Campillo gets beat, he doesn't have the power to dissuade Saad

Cloud- A stoppage looks on the cards

Cleverly- 50/50

Ward- Beats him, winning every round, might even get a late stoppage.

Abraham- Abraham's power might see him get a win in a very close fight/

Pavlik- Same as above

Bute- This is a tricky one, Bute might not handle Saad's considerable power, he was by no means a wrecking machine but his right hand was a real power shot. 50/50

Please tell me that the Matthew Saad Muhammad you're referring to in these picks is the shot version from the late 80s...

The only guys I'd say would have a chance would be Froch and Ward, but I'd pick prime MSM over both of them.

People really need to watch some of his wars in the 70s and early 80s... he was a beast.


Does anyone know why he and Spinks never met?

[jabsRstiff]

Does anyone know why he and Spinks never met?

Seemed like Spinks had worked himself into the title picture just shortly before Saad lost his belt to Braxton. I know Saad was supposed to fight Mustafa Muhammad on this huge card called "This is It!" (which would have been incredible) sometime in 1980-early '81, but that all fell through. I think Spinks targeted Mustafa and the plan would be to meet Saad shortly after that....

Saad was on borrowed time then, fighting the way he fought. I think he'd have been in a lot of trouble against Spinks had they fought instead of Spinks facing Mustafa Muhammad.

[SBleeder]

Does anyone know why he and Spinks never met?

Seemed like Spinks had worked himself into the title picture just shortly before Saad lost his belt to Braxton. I know Saad was supposed to fight Mustafa Muhammad on this huge card called "This is It!" (which would have been incredible) sometime in 1980-early '81, but that all fell through. I think Spinks targeted Mustafa and the plan would be to meet Saad shortly after that....

Saad was on borrowed time then, fighting the way he fought. I think he'd have been in a lot of trouble against Spinks had they fought instead of Spinks facing Mustafa Muhammad.

Thanks for the history.

I agree that Spinks would have likely beaten MSM any time after the Qawi fights... but he was still an extremely dangerous fighter for several years after that. Would have been fun to see regardless.

[jabsRstiff]

Thanks for the history.

I agree that Spinks would have likely beaten MSM any time after the Qawi fights... but he was still an extremely dangerous fighter for several years after that. Would have been fun to see regardless.

I think Saad took too many punches to survive Spinks, who was a massive puncher at 175. Spinks was also smart enough to not press too much when he hurt Matt and that would keep him from getting caught up in one of Saad's patented comebacks.

Michael Spinks could beat a past-his-best Saad......but no way those 168lb dudes of recent times beat Saad like this one goofball poster would like to believe.

[bender2000]

he was a beast and you never could count him out in fights at his best he came back hard when under adversity , he would be a test for anyone today.

[Trenchant]

Yeah, maybe Ward, but Clowd or Dawson or any of them, no way. Saad was good fighter, he could fight at range and his comebacks were very crafty and seemingly from out of nowhere. He was not just a straight ahead brawler. Qawi was just too strong for him. But in the first fight Saad did manage to keep his distance and lasted till the late rounds hoping to come back but it just was not going to happen. Also, back in Saad's prime, I don't think the referee's would have stood for Ward's hold and then jump out and flurry style.

[SCtrojansbaby]

Yeah, maybe Ward, but Clowd or Dawson or any of them, no way. Saad was good fighter, he could fight at range and his comebacks were very crafty and seemingly from out of nowhere. He was not just a straight ahead brawler. Qawi was just too strong for him. But in the first fight Saad did manage to keep his distance and lasted till the late rounds hoping to come back but it just was not going to happen. Also, back in Saad's prime, I don't think the referee's would have stood for Ward's hold and then jump out and flurry style.

I doubt he could comeback against a guy like Kesler who is technically sound and methodical.

[joseph5620]

I doubt he could comeback against a guy like Kesler who is technically sound and methodical.

He wouldn't have to "comeback" against Kessler. What exactly has Kessler done at 175? Even in today's weak division Kessler is not a top fighter at 175.

[SCtrojansbaby]

He wouldn't have to "comeback" against Kessler. What exactly has Kessler done at 175? Even in today's weak division Kessler is not a top fighter at 175.

Kesler's only had 1 fight at 175 but he certainly has the size it really doesn't matter he's a more skilled boxer and their is no reason to think he's grade A chin won't carry to 175.